Accountability

I know something we might all struggle with. Making health a habit. Putting exercise as a priority. Finding the time in your busy day to eek out some form of movement and healthy choices.

I also know a way to help with it. You've got to get some accountability. It comes in many forms. Maybe you join an office pool to lose weight. Or even try the online betting app called DietBet where you can join challenges and win money when you reach your goal. You can promise yourself a treat when you reach a certain goal. Or talk your significant other into keeping you accountable during mealtime. And then there is certainly my favorite...find a fit sister. Get yourself a partner in crime. Someone to work out with. Someone to call when the sugar monster rears its ugly head. Someone who will be bummed if you hit the snooze button and miss a session. 

Having someone to hold me accountable has been the biggest motivator in my fitness journey. I'm strong but my willpower wavers at times. The other evening I was this close to throwing my hands up in the air and calling uncle on my Whole30. But luckily my supportive husband talked me off the ledge. 

Today is Day 20 of your nutrition challenge and I want to know how you are feeling! What obstacles have you encountered? What has been you favorite part of it so far? What results are you seeing? And remember results aren't always on the scale. Are you sleeping better? Increased energy? Clearer skin? Tell me about it!

Catching Up and Weekly Check-In

1-12-15 Eats:
Breakfast- leftover salmon and eggs
Lunch- leftover chicken legs
Dinner- fried oysters (made with coconut flour) and sweet potato fries

1-13-15 Eats:
Breakfast- smoked salmon, avocado, and fried eggs
Lunch- turkey, avocado, remoulade' lettuce sub
Dinner- Cracklin' Chicken, steamed veggies and half a sweet potato

1-14-15 Eats:
Breakfast- bacon and salad eggs with hot sauce
Lunch- turkey, bacon, avocado, remoulade' schmaleo sub
Dinner- Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy with mashed cauliflower
After Dinner Snack- cut up banana, almond butter, toasted coconut flakes

I've really slacked on my water intake the past few days. I've gotten almost all the way once, the other few days I've only drank about half a gallon. I have had my oils in the morning and my ginger shot. And of course on Day 14 of my Whole30 I'm feeling pretty damn awesome.

The kids and I are headed out of town on an impromptu mini-vaca, and I'll be eating out. But lucky me, Northwest Arkansas has plenty of options for finding clean food. Meet you back here in a few days. In the meantime make certain and post your weekly update. The more you participate the more likely you are to win prizes!

#8WTF Days 10 & 11

Whoops! I was so darn tired I totally forgot to post last night.

Yesterday's eats went like this:

Breakfast- prosciutto and egg muffins
Lunch- roast & veggies
Snack- Larabar and banana
Dinner- shrimp and asparagus


Today's grub:

Breakfast- bacon, eggs, leftover salmon with spicy mayo
Lunch- more leftover salmon with spicy mayo
Dinner- Hot wings and sweet potato fries with spicy mayo

Hmm...lots of spicy mayo, very little veggies. I'll have to fix that tomorrow.

I've reached my water goal for the day but didn't get my oils in or my ginger shot.



I know most of you aren't doing the Whole30 but I thought I would write a little bit about how I go about it. Almost everyone will tell you to prep, prep, prep! Take Sunday or whatever and cook up a storm, slice up all your veggies, pack lunches. Some easy things to prep are frittatas, chicken thighs, seasoned ground beef, chicken legs, chili, paleo mayo, and deviled eggs. These are regular go to things for our family. But honestly I don't do a whole lot of prep. I am home all day most days of the week so I have plenty of time to cook our three meals. I just make sure and cook more than we need so there are lots of leftovers for those hungry people who wander in the kitchen and stare into the fridge as if it holds the answers to all life's questions. Since my husband is participating in this Whole30, I make extra sure these leftovers are available.

Let's take a look into my Whole30 fridge. Mind you I just went shopping today so its pretty packed. And of course you will see a lot of non-Whole30 food and a lot of non-Paleo food. My kids still have to eat. They mostly eat what we eat but there are times in between meals or when I'm not hungry myself and don't want to cook, but they still want to eat. Just overlook those items. I'm sure I've missed a few things but what I've listed is my most often used items.

#8WTF Day 9

Just plain exhausted. Fully entrenched in just wanting to take a nap. I just want to nap. Like now. Right now. This instant.

#8WTF Whole30 Day 8

The hardest thing about the Whole30 to me is that alcohol is prohibited during the thirty days.

In fact all I really want to do today is drink a beer.

That's all I have to say.

Today's Whole30 eats:

Breakfast- bacon and fried eggs
Lunch- leftover Lobster Bisque
Snack- apple with almond butter
Dinner- half a ribeye and a small bowl of Lobster Bisque

I nailed my water intake and also had my oils and ginger shot.



If you are truly wanting to quit drinking alcohol, I highly recommend the community site, Hello Sunday Morning. They have a terrific philosophy about alcohol and an amazing support system.

#8WTF Day 7 & Mediterranean Roast Chicken & Weekly Check-In

Last night's dinner was one of my own recipes. Mediterranean Roasted Chicken. So good, and the leftovers are just as bomb.

Ingredients:

4 bone in split chicken breast

1/4 c. balsamic vinegar

2 tbsp. capers

3 canned artichoke hearts chopped

1 tbsp. garlic

2 tbsp. sundried tomatoes

1 tbsp dried basil or a 1/4 c. fresh basil thinly sliced

Early in the day, marinate the chicken breast in the balsamic vinegar.

Preheat oven to 375 or preheat grill.

Mix all other ingredients together. Pull back skin on chicken breasts and stuff in the mixture. Place in roasting dish and bake for 45 min to 1 hour or until juices run clear. If grilling start with skin side down to sear and seal in stuffing mixture. Continue to flip back and forth until done.

Today was rest day. A much appreciated rest day. I literally stayed in my pj's all day long. I got my water in, although it was tougher than normal with no exercise to increase my thirst. Also had my oil infused water, but didn't have a ginger shot. Whole30 still going strong. Todays eats were:

Breakfast- eggs, bacon, sweet potato hash

Lunch- leftover Mediterranean Roast Chicken and veggies with a quarter sweet potato

Snack- half and avocado wrapped in turkey

Dinner- Paleo Lobster Bisque

For dinner tonight I found a recipe to use up some of the lobster tails I have stored in the fridge. This Paleo Lobster Bisque from Cavegirl Cuisine turned out very good.

At the end of Week 1, I kept to my goals, but I'm feeling very tired today.

Let me know how your week has gone. What small daily steps have you done to reach your goals? Any obstacles get in your way?

#8WTF Day 6

"There are many things we don't like in life but the benefits that they bring far outweigh the temporary discomfort." - Richard Gilmore

Any other Gilmore Girls fans in the house?

Woohoo! Are the cravings setting in yet? I had a bit of a sugar craving hit today and while I ignored it, I kind of ate more food than I planned on. But then again maybe I was just hungry. Yesterday I made Spicy Tuna Cakes from Nom Nom Paleo's book Nom Nom Paleo: Food For Humans. They are one of my favorite things from this book! Last night we also tried the Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy and hot damn! It was a hit. We will be having more of that during this Whole30.

These tuna cakes are so yummy. Even cold! For breakfast I threw a cold one on my plate along with bacon, eggs, and avocado. So good. Lunch was four more tuna cakes. Snack was the last tuna cake, a mini pear, and half an avocado wrapped in turkey. Of course I gobbled a Larabar (gonna have to take a break from those). My dinner plate was Mediterranean Roast Chicken, sweet potato, and broccoli.

I could have taken today as a rest day but instead chose to work legs and abs. I am still in love with my roman bench. I used my medicine ball on it today and I can guarantee you I will be feeling it tomorrow. I'm calling today a success despite the extra food. It was all Whole30 and I have been getting my workouts in consistently. Progress not perfection.